Klaus arrived at his house late in the afternoon.
At the side of the house, Daisy and Lily were taking down freshly washed clothes from a line stretched between two wooden posts.
The fabrics swayed gently in the breeze.
Jelly—the small stone golem—stood beneath the line, arms raised. Its rough, pebble-like body looked solid, yet it moved with careful precision as it lifted Lily on its shoulders.
"Higher, Jelly," Lily said, reaching for a shirt just beyond her fingertips.
The golem adjusted, stepping forward slightly.
"There!" she chirped, pulling the cloth free and handing it down.
Daisy followed behind with a woven basket, neatly folding each piece as it came.
"Careful with that one," she said. "That's yours."
"I know," Lily replied proudly. "I folded it yesterday, too, Mom."
Daisy smiled faintly.
Then she noticed someone standing at the wooden gate of the house.
It was Klaus.
Daisy quickly set the basket down and brushed her hands against her skirt before stepping forward.
"Mr. Klaus, welcome back," she said warmly. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?"
Klaus glanced at her, continued walking, and stopped at the front door of the house.
"No," he replied calmly. "Just continue what you're doing."
He leaned lightly against the wooden beam.
"I'll rest for a bit. Call me when dinner is ready."
Daisy nodded.
"Of course."
Behind her, Lily had already spotted him.
Her eyes lit up. She tapped Jelly's head lightly.
"Go there, Jelly. We need to greet big brother."
The golem turned without question and began walking toward Klaus, each step slow but steady. Lily bounced slightly on its shoulders, holding onto its rocky head for balance.
When they reached him, she straightened proudly.
"Welcome back, big brother!"
Klaus reached up and took out the small silver plate pinned to the beam beside him. It made a soft metallic ting.
"Have you been a good girl while I was gone?" he asked.
Lily puffed her chest.
"Of course!" she said. "I helped mom with laundry, gardening, and cleaning."
Klaus gave a small nod.
"Then Mr. House must be very pleased."
Lily turned immediately toward the house, placing her hands on her hips.
"Of course, big brother," she said seriously. "Right, Mr. House?"
The wooden walls stood still.
No answer came. The breeze passed quietly.
Lily's expression faltered just a little.
Her shoulders dropped, "…Mr. House?"
Klaus watched her for a moment, then spoke casually, "He's probably asleep."
Lily blinked, "Really?"
Klaus nodded, "You can talk to him later."
A small smile returned to her face, "Okay."
Daisy picked up the basket again.
"Come on," she said gently. "Let's finish this so we can start cooking."
Lily nodded quickly.
"Okay!"
She tapped Jelly again, and the golem turned back toward the clothesline, carrying her without a sound.
Klaus watched them for a second longer.
Then he pushed the door and walked inside.
As he stepped into his room and immediately noticed something out of place.
A folded piece of paper rested neatly on his desk.
Klaus closed the door behind him, then removed his robe and hung it on the back hook with a slow, practiced motion.
He walked to the desk, picked up the paper, and unfolded it.
The message was short.
ACCEPT THE OFFER.
Klaus stared at it for a second.
Then his brow furrowed slightly.
"…Who the hell are you," he muttered under his breath, "to dictate my decision?"
He crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it toward the window.
The moment it passed through the sunlight—
Fshh—
It ignited.
Burned to ash before it even touched the ground.
Klaus didn't react.
He simply turned away and walked toward his bed.
The mattress creaked softly as he lay down.
For a moment, he stared at the ceiling.
Still. Quiet. Then his eyes closed.
He hadn't slept for days now.
Not once.
People thought he had been resting during the mission—leaning back, eyes closed, breathing slowly.
But he hadn't.
Every second, he had been listening.
Sensing.
Using echolocation over and over again, mapping the surroundings in silence, scanning for movement, danger.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Until even his mind felt worn.
Now, finally—
He let go.
His breathing slowed.
And within seconds—
Klaus fell asleep.
**
Two days later—
The southern outskirts of Crowvale stretched wide under the afternoon sun, the land gradually rising toward a fortified estate that stood not far from the road to Aegulus. Shane's state was hard to miss. A solid wall of two-meter stone blocks surrounded it, cleanly built and connected to the outer defenses of the town itself. Guards were not visible, but the place didn't feel unguarded.
It felt… watched.
Klaus approached without hurry, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded as usual.
Then he stopped.
Near the entrance wall, a familiar figure was clinging halfway up the stone.
Kiel.
One foot wedged between the cracks, fingers gripping the top edge, his head barely peeking over the wall as he tried to look inside.
Klaus tilted his head slightly.
"Aren't you worried Shane might have you arrested?" he said.
Kiel flinched hard. His hand slipped.
"Wha—!"
A second later—
Thud.
He landed butt-first on the ground.
Kiel sat there for a moment, stunned, then quickly rubbed his backside with a pained wince.
"…Hello, Mr. Klaus," he said, trying to sound normal. "I'm just—"
"You can't see her from outside," Klaus cut in calmly.
Kiel froze. "…I wasn't—"
Klaus looked at him silently.
Kiel opened his mouth… then closed it again.
"…Okay, maybe a little."
Klaus turned toward the gate.
"Are you coming inside," he said, "or do you plan to stay here and look creepy?"
Kiel scrambled to his feet.
"I'm not creepy!"
"You're climbing a wall."
"…Fair point."
He dusted off his clothes and followed quickly behind Klaus.
The gates opened with a quiet push.
Inside, the estate was neat and spacious. Gravel paths curved through trimmed gardens, and a few servants moved quietly in the distance.
A butler approached them almost immediately.
"Welcome back, Mr. Klaus," he said with a slight bow. "And Mr. Kiel."
Klaus glanced around briefly.
"Maybe you should increase your security," he said. "I saw a rather creepy young man peeking over the wall earlier."
He then looked directly at Kiel.
Kiel frowned.
"I'm not creepy."
The butler's lips twitched slightly, though his tone remained professional.
"Mr. Kiel," he said politely, "you are always welcome inside."
He gestured toward the garden.
"It is far safer than climbing the walls."
He paused, then added gently,
"Master occasionally lets his dogs roam freely. I'm afraid they might mistake you for a toy if you continue that behavior."
Kiel blinked.
"…Dogs?"
He glanced at the tall walls again.
"…Thanks for the reminder."
Klaus smirked faintly.
**
They followed the stone path deeper into the estate until they reached the back garden.
It opened into a quiet space filled with trimmed hedges and blooming flowers. At the center stood a wooden gazebo, shaded and cool despite the heat of the day.
Shane sat inside, a cup of tea in hand, posture straight and composed.
The butler stopped at the edge and bowed slightly.
"Young master, Mr. Klaus and Mr. Kiel are here."
Shane looked up.
His eyes moved from Klaus… to Kiel.
A faint pause.
"I only expected Klaus," he said. "Why are you here, Kiel?"
Kiel stiffened immediately.
"I—I—well—uh—"
His hands moved awkwardly, as if trying to explain something his mouth refused to say.
Klaus spoke instead.
"Our lover boy here misses the Kultian princess."
Kiel snapped his head toward him.
"I don't—!"
Shane simply said,
"Oh."
That was it.
No reaction.
Just a quiet acknowledgment.
Then he set his cup down and studied Kiel for a moment.
"…How's your aim?" he asked.
Kiel blinked, "…Still working on it, boss."
Shane nodded slightly.
"Starting tomorrow," he said, "train at the southern sector. Near the Kultian settlement."
Kiel froze.
Then his eyes widened.
"There's an open field there," Shane continued calmly. "Plenty of space for shooting practice."
Kiel's face lit up.
"Really? Thank you, boss!"
He straightened, almost too quickly.
"I mean—yes, boss!"
Klaus glanced at Shane.
"You're too kind," he said. "If I were you, I'd bar him from entering and have him arrested the next time he climbs the wall."
Kiel frowned.
"That's harsh."
Shane picked up his tea again.
"I'm not you."
Klaus gave a small nod.
"Fair enough."
He stepped closer.
"Now, about our business."
Shane reached beside him and picked up a folded paper. He handed it to Klaus.
"That's the list," he said. "Combinations of stones and powders, I mentioned. Also, the metals suitable to contain them."
Klaus unfolded it and scanned the contents. It was a long list of different names some he didn't know.
His eyes moved quickly—calm at first—
Then slowed.
Something caught his attention.
Saltpeter.
Charcoal.
Sulfur.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
"I think this will do."
Kiel leaned over slightly, trying to read.
"Charcoal? Sulfur?" he said. "Are you cooking something, Mr. Klaus?"
Klaus folded the paper neatly.
"Yes," he replied. "Something explosive."
Kiel blinked.
"…That doesn't sound safe."
"It isn't," Klaus turned to Shane. "How much?"
Shane answered without hesitation.
"As expected, you picked the cheapest combination on the list," he said. "Charcoal and sulfur—just a few copper. Saltpeter will cost more. A few silver."
Klaus nodded once.
"That's acceptable."
He tapped the paper lightly against his palm.
"Know a good blacksmith?"
Shane looked at him.
"…I need something to contain them," Klaus added.
Shane leaned back slightly.
"Of course I do," he said. "But I'm busy today."
A brief pause.
"Give me a few days. I'll introduce you."
Klaus studied him, "The Keepers?"
Shane nodded.
Klaus exhaled softly, "Then I'll leave."
He turned without hesitation.
"Prepare everything for me. I'll come back."
"Noted," Shane replied.
Klaus walked away the same way he came—quiet, unbothered, already done with the conversation.
Kiel watched him go, then leaned slightly toward Shane.
"…Is Mr. Klaus afraid of the Keepers?"
He scratched his cheek.
"He heard their name and just left."
Shane picked up his tea again.
"…Maybe," he said.
But his eyes lingered briefly on the path Klaus had taken.